Chapter 189: Cleverness Overreached by Cleverness

The Love Stick looks like a section of bamboo, over a foot long, with no inscriptions carved upon it.

【Weapon Refinement Master】 and several other players specializing in weapon refinement studied the Love Stick for a long time, eventually concluding that it was just an ordinary bamboo pole with no possibility of being replicated.

As for why using it to hit someone triggers feelings of love in the target, it can only be explained by it being a game item.

Just like Shopkeeper Lin's Love God's Bow, the principles of weapon refinement cannot explain it either.

If one must provide an explanation, it is that the NPC who crafted the Love Stick was of too high a level, having already reached the realm of returning to simplicity, which they cannot yet see through.

【Xianxia's Number One Paparazzo】 received the first Reporter ID belonging to a player, which featured his name and photo.

Other than that, no special features could be discerned.

Throwing the Reporter ID on the ground, it would not automatically return to his pocket. Moreover, looking at the material of the Reporter ID, it was not the indestructible kind.

In other words.

Although the Reporter ID is a Divine Artifact, it can be damaged, lost, or even drop upon death...

"I knew it, this goddamn game that pursues realism wouldn't have truly heaven-defying items in the early stages. Thinking of using it to enter and exit sect forbidden grounds, treasure pavilions, and the like is simply unrealistic; one slip-up and you're completely finished." 【Gugao Laoren】 returned the Reporter ID to 【Xianxia's Number One Paparazzo】, slightly disappointed. "Once the authority of 'Justice Weekly' is established, we can create our own Reporter IDs and still enter and exit major sects at will to conduct interviews."

"Maybe they'll even provide meals," 【I Am Not A Small Account】 giggled.

"And they'll stuff silver into your hands, asking you to publish articles in Justice Weekly to flatter them," 【Longxi】 said.

"You are not allowed to insult my Faith," 【Xianxia's Number One Paparazzo】 said, earnestly tucking the Reporter ID into his bosom, annoyed.

"Paparazzo, don't be angry. Although what they said doesn't sound very pleasant, once the reputation of 'Justice Weekly' is established, a published report really might sway the development of the plot," 【Gugao Laoren】 narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Shopkeeper Lin has forged a great weapon for us!"

"What do you mean?" 【Lao Mi】 asked.

"Have you ever thought that no matter how capable Shopkeeper Lin is, he is only one person. For 'Justice Weekly' to operate normally, it cannot do without us players. In other words, 'Justice Weekly' is actually in our hands. Right now, the influence of Justice Weekly is only in Qian City, but in the future, when it grows into a towering tree, a single manifesto published will be enough to nail Shopkeeper Lin to the pillar of shame and make him a true enemy of the world," 【Gugao Laoren】 said.

Hiss!

Many players gasped.

"Shopkeeper Lin seems to be planning strategies and playing everyone in the palm of his hand. But his weakness is fatal: he has too few trusted confidants." 【Gugao Laoren】 looked at the players beside him, paused, and said, "Whether it is the Beggar Sect or Justice Weekly, they are all controlled by us. The better these projects are managed, the greater the possibility that we can hollow him out in the future. Later, when we want to kick him aside, we can just kick him aside. After all that busyness, he did the work for us; Shopkeeper Lin is a classic case of being too clever for one's own good."

"Speculative, arbitrary, dictatorial, looking down on everyone, thinking he can always control the overall situation. Shopkeeper Lin has stepped into every pit that a smart person can step into!" 【I Am Not A Small Account】 nodded in agreement.

"His biggest mistake is not understanding the nature of players," 【Longxi】 summarized with a smile.

"Regardless, Shopkeeper Lin is still our greatest reliance at this stage," 【Gugao Laoren】 smiled and said. "In the future, whatever he entrusts to us, do it as well as you can. Everything we do is for our own benefit, does everyone understand?"

"Understood." The players nodded, instantly full of energy.

"Who will accompany me to knock on the City Lord?" 【Lao Mi】 shook the Love Stick in his hand and smiled. "I can't wait to experience the feeling of being loved by an NPC."

"I'll go!" 【Deng Li Buduo】 said. "Nominally, I am Lin Bai's disciple; if we go together, we can increase the City Lord's attention."

"Do you have a plan?" 【Lao Mi】 asked.

"Take the future plans of the Beggar Sect with us, make the plans more cumbersome, and while you are explaining them to the City Lord, you hit him with the stick," 【Deng Li Buduo】 said. "We can't see the City Lord's level; this is the safest way."

【Lao Mi】 and 【Deng Li Buduo】 went to prepare props and do tasks, while 【Gugao Laoren】 took the people from the Beggar Sect to talk business with the wealthy families in the city.

Lin Bai also gave them tasks.

He let them promote the business of pills and weapons, and open a few restaurants by the way.

This time.

Lin Bai fought several Nascent Soul experts of the Evil Five Sects alone and nearly stumbled, making him realize that his strength still had many deficiencies.

Various system tasks were once again put on the agenda.

He planned to take his strength to the next level before the next batch of players arrived.

Above Nascent Soul is Spirit Transformation.

Daoxu's master, Li Zhenren, who is in the Spirit Transformation Realm, does not know where he went to wander.

Advancing from Spirit Transformation to the Void Refinement Realm requires sufficient realization and opportunity, so most experts in the Spirit Transformation Realm do not stay in their sects; most are traveling outside.

Lin Bai believes that once the matter of the Justice Alliance spreads, these old monsters will definitely jump out to find trouble for him.

And, it is very likely not just one.

Lin Bai's sense of crisis is very heavy...

On the Sword Boat of the Chaoyuan Sword Sect.

A group of Golden Core experts who arrived slowly to participate in the "Gancheng Cup" learned the latest news about Lin Bai from the players, and they were all stunned.

The leader of the Sword Sect this time is Guan Pengfei, the deacon of the Sword Peak. He is well-maintained and looks to be only in his early fifties.

At this time, he looked at the 【First Sword Immortal】 opposite him, his eyes full of disbelief: "You said Lin Bai defeated the combined forces of the five great evil sects alone?"

"How did he defeat them?" Tong Cha's expression was also not very good. During this period, the two words "Lin Bai" had almost become his nightmare; any news about Lin Bai would give him a headache.

"The Evil Five Sects set an ambush outside Qian City. The Blood Shadow Sect and the Demon Spirit Sect used Blood Shadows and the Sky Curtain to block Lin Bai's vision, but he blasted them open with a Lightning Storm..." 【Huangye Lang】 recounted the battle process in detail. "When he appeared again, Pei Yanzong was already flirting with Daoxu. Later, under Lin Bai's instruction, Daoxu used seduction, and Pei Yanzong died for love, only to be turned into a Puppet by Lin Bai..."

Flirting?

Died for love?

The Sword Immortals of the Chaoyuan Sword Sect were dumbfounded.

Are these proper words to appear in a battle? What a bizarre process!

However, when Lin Bai subdued Huilong Temple, it seemed that such a scene had also been staged, so the Sword Immortals were relieved.

But Lin Bai's danger level was raised by another grade by them.

Sword Immortals charge forward bravely and are not afraid of dying in a grand battle; what they fear are those treacherous and insidious evil tricks!

Daoxu Zhenren, such a righteous person, after being tortured by Lin Bai, did not hesitate to seduce Pei Yanzong before the battle; the image is painful to even think about.

What the hell is all this!

"What about the process in the middle?" Guan Pengfei swallowed his saliva. "The five sect leaders are all Nascent Soul experts; they didn't do anything and were just seduced?"

"Yeah! Pei Yanzong was captured, and they remained indifferent?" Tong Cha asked.

"I don't know the process in between; perhaps they fought for a while!" Huangye Lang said. The players were trapped within the Sky Curtain, and the live stream was interrupted for a portion, so they also didn't know exactly what had happened at the time!

"Later, the several sect masters of the Evil Five Sects were frightened by Lin Bai's methods and were bewitched by Lin Bai into forming a Justice Alliance, saying they wanted to uphold justice and create a beautiful new era of cultivation," First Sword Immortal said. "Then, they agreed to go to Qian City to discuss the specific regulations of the Justice Alliance, and we don't know what happened after that."

"However, when Lin Bai persuaded the several sect masters to surrender, he promised them that the Justice Alliance would seize the Magic Tools of the Spirit Tool Pavilion and the pills of the Medicine King Valley," Jue Ye added.

"When the several sect masters of the evil sects came out of the Beggar Sect branch, their expressions were not very good; perhaps they had suffered Lin Bai's temper, but none of them left Qian City," First Sword Immortal said. "Given Lin Bai's personality, I estimate that it won't be long before he takes the people of the Evil Five Sects to attack the Medicine King Valley or the Spirit Tool Pavilion."

"Justice Alliance?" Guan Pengfei widened his eyes and said bitterly, "Colluding with evil sects, he is indeed not following any good path. This time, it will be a fight to the death with him."

"Senior Brother Guan, Lin Bai fought the five great evil sects alone, and the people of the Evil Five Sects have joined him, which is like adding wings to a tiger. I'm afraid we are no match for him!" Tong Cha had lingering fears.

"What should we do? We can't just join his Justice Alliance like the people of the Evil Five Sects, can we?" Guan Pengfei snorted. "Let's go, return to the sect. This matter is of great importance; let the sect master decide."

He looked at Huangye Lang and the others. "You few, report to me at any time if there are any movements from Lin Bai's side. Also, keep me informed of the movements of the several sects of the Hundred Flowers Valley..."

The same scene was also happening in the Hundred Flowers Valley, the Medicine King Valley, and the Spirit Tool Pavilion. Everyone who led a team to participate in the Gancheng Cup made a prompt decision and returned to their sects.

Lin Bai's style of doing things was too erratic and swift, and even with the Heavenly Descended reporting the news, they felt they couldn't keep up with his rhythm...

One step slow, every step slow!

If they didn't think of a solution, these sects were afraid they would follow in the footsteps of Huilong Temple.

"Sect Master He, Lin Bai has made it clear that he wants to wipe us all out. How should we respond?" Inside the Hundred Flowers Valley, Valley Master Tang Lanling said somewhat awkwardly to Jinshe Langjun in front of her.

"Valley Master, if you ask me, we should just merge into the Justice Alliance. If you can't beat them, join them; why suffer for nothing?" Jinshe Langjun was live-streaming, acting as a switchboard operator.

Time was tight, and they could no longer gather together to discuss countermeasures. Having no choice, the sect masters of several sects used the method of the Heavenly Descended to transmit voices to each other.

Although speaking this way was rather awkward, it had the advantage of being fast.

This could be considered the first conference call in the Xianxia World.

"Shut up, just relay the words truthfully!" Tang Lanling glared at him unhappily. "If the Hundred Flowers Valley is gone, where will you go to learn arts? If we join the Justice Alliance and provoke the siege of the Righteous Seven Sects and the Demonic Five Sects, who will deal with it?"

"Of course it would be Shopkeeper Lin. Why don't you believe in his strength?" Jinshe Langjun scanned the pleasing beauties in the hall, licked his lips, and said, "Valley Master, I'm not afraid to tell you, now more than half of the Heavenly Descended in the Hundred Flowers Valley are undercover agents for the Beggar Sect, and the remaining half are here for the beauty of the Hundred Flowers Valley. Look, is there any ugly person among the Heavenly Descended? You don't really think the core techniques of the Hundred Flowers Valley are that attractive, do you!"

"..." Tang Lanling choked. Her palms trembled uncontrollably, and she could hardly resist slapping him to death.

Inside the Main Hall.

All the deacons of the Hundred Flowers Valley were shocked by the truth, and a clamor arose one after another, their faces flushed red.

"You scoundrel, babbling nonsense."

"Valley Master, allow me to kill this thief, and then kill all the Heavenly Descended."

"Quiet!" Tang Lanling reached out to press down. She took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in her heart, and said with a dark face, "Is everything you said true?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Jinshe Langjun said. "How many people are waiting for Shopkeeper Lin to kill his way over? You don't know how to do any fancy tricks; you only know how to urge people to cultivate. It's too boring."

Behind Jiang Yuru, Jiang Qingqin, who had just cultivated the Golden Core, curled her lips and muttered in a low voice: "I said long ago not to be enemies with Lin Bai, but you just wouldn't listen..."

"Shut up." Jiang Yuru scolded in a low voice.

Amidst the chaotic noise, a player named Huaxin Dashao appeared in front of Jinshe Langjun: "Valley Master, Sect Master He said that Senior Sister Jiang Qingqin of the Hundred Flowers Valley is on good terms with Lin Bai, and she can be allowed to take the people of the Hundred Flowers Valley to Shopkeeper Lin first to stall his pace. They will go to ask the Righteous Seven Sects for help. Shopkeeper Lin's methods are unfathomable; I'm afraid it will take a Spirit Transformation expert to deal with him..."

"Good for you, undercover agent, actually spreading false information?" Tang Lanling looked at Huaxin Dashao and suddenly scolded.

Huaxin Dashao was stunned and blinked his eyes: "Valley Master, are you talking about me?"

"Aren't you?" Jinshe Langjun exposed his own shortcomings. Tang Lanling now looked at everyone as if they were undercover agents; who knew if his rumors were still credible? She said with a dark face, "If you weren't an undercover agent, why would you call him Shopkeeper Lin every time instead of calling him by his name directly?"

"..." Flower Heart Young Master looked at Golden Snake Young Noble.

Jinshe Langjun shrugged at him and privately messaged: "I just told her about the undercover agent thing."

"You're awesome!" Flower Heart Young Master gave him a thumbs up, looked at Tang Lanling, and explained helplessly, "Valley Master, I know there are many undercover agents in the Hundred Flowers Valley, but I'm really not one. I really like the atmosphere and environment of the Hundred Flowers Valley."

Tang Lanling gritted her teeth: "Shameless scoundrel."

"Valley Master, if you keep talking like this, it's really not interesting!" Flower Heart Young Master frowned. "Do you still want me to relay the message? Sect Master He really said that. But I don't suggest listening to him. My opinion is that we should play along, join the Justice Alliance first, and let them go ask for reinforcements. If the reinforcements defeat Shopkeeper Lin, we will just pretend to defect to the enemy and continue to live happily in the Hundred Flowers Valley. If Shopkeeper Lin defeats the reinforcements, it proves that the Justice Alliance has more potential. Following them, we won't suffer any losses..."

"..." Tang Lanling was stunned.

"Shameless to the extreme." Jiang Qingqin couldn't help but scold, "A two-faced villain."

Offline.

The audience watching their live stream were driven crazy with joy as they watched the farce of the various sects.

"666"

"Are the brains of these sect masters filled with paste? Their leadership and decision-making abilities are eight streets behind Shopkeeper Lin!"

"Cultivated until they became stupid."

"Long-term pursuit of balance, suddenly encountering a troublemaker like Shopkeeper Lin, they are bound to be at a loss."

"Without using dirty tricks, these guys can't win at all."

"Shopkeeper Lin: None of them can fight."

"No wonder Shopkeeper Lin dared to form the Justice Alliance alone. These sects are just a pile of loose sand, only thinking about head-on collisions to kill Shopkeeper Lin. It's so stupid."

"Yeah! Using dirty tricks, tripping him up, honey traps, sowing discord—if Shopkeeper Lin is made of iron, how many nails can he take?"

"Not necessarily. If they really pull down a great power from the Righteous Seven Sects and fight across levels, Shopkeeper Lin might not be able to hold on. In the Xianxia World, strength is the first priority; conspiracies and tricks won't go far. Inside the Sky Curtain, Lin Bai's performance was actually a bit embarrassed."

"It's fine even without going to the Righteous Seven Sects. Shopkeeper Lin repeats those few moves over and over. If they think of a good countermeasure, taking him down won't be a problem. Of course, the premise is not to let players participate. There are too many undercover agents. These sect masters discussed back and forth, and it was all live-streamed. A hand of rotten cards, and still playing with cards face up—what's the point of playing? Might as well wash up clean and find Shopkeeper Lin to be favored early; at least they'll suffer less torture..."

(End of this chapter)